How to buy a house in the Netherlands in 10 steps

Are you renting your property at the moment, but you want to stay in the Netherlands for at least three years? Then it could make sense to buy a house or an apartment instead of paying high rent and throwing money down the drain. Here is how you can buy a house in ten easy steps.

Maybe you think buying a house in the Netherlands can be a complicated process, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. You don’t speak the language, you don't know the laws or the regulations and you will be spending the most amount of money you’ve ever spent. You might also worry that you are overpaying for a property.

To find out which options you have, it is advisable to determine your budget first and meet with an independent mortgage advisor or bank. If buying is a good option, the next step is a consultation with a registered estate agent. During such a meeting, the whole buying process will be explained to you so you will be well-prepared and go through a stressless buying process. This is what the buying process with an estate agent will look like:

1. Making a property profile

Together with your estate agent, you will decide how much you want to spend on your new home, your areas, your “must-haves” and “nice to haves”.

2. Search for suitable properties

On a daily basis, your estate agent will send you properties according to your needs and wishes. You can then inform them which ones you’d actually like to view in person.

3. Go on viewings

A full-service estate agent will join you for every viewing. In this overstrained market this is advisable, as there is often no second opportunity to view it again. If you spend such a big amount on your investment, you will need the best advice.

4. Research your potential new home

When you fall in love with a house, a registered estate agent has all the data and knowledge to advise you on how much you should offer for the property.

5. Checking all the documents

At the same time, the estate agent will get a hold of all the important documents, like deeds, minutes of the association of owners, information on the land registry, leasehold conditions and energy labels. You will be informed about everything that is of any importance to your property.

Your real estate agent will find out everything you need to beware aware of as a new house owner, for instance: the financial situation and plans of the association of owners, if your garden is fully yours, or if your neighbour is allowed to go through your garden with their garbage.

6. Negotiating the best deal possible

A buying agent will handle the offer and will inform the selling agent that you are well prepared and have already been to a mortgage advisor, so financial prepared as well. An offer will not only contain the purchase price but also the transfer date and dissolving conditions, like getting a mortgage or a technical survey. These conditions are there to protect you, so use them if necessary.

7. The preliminary contract of sale

If the deal is verbally accepted, you need to make it legal in the purchase deed. This can be drawn up by a notary or the selling estate agent. Your buying agent will then check everything. This is most important, for everything is written in legal jargon, which may be difficult for you to understand.

With this purchase contract, your mortgage advisor will continue the process of getting a mortgage. There will be a valuation for the bank, in case you need one.

8. The final walk-through

A few days prior to transfer, you will receive the draft of the deed of ownership and the completion statement from a notary. You will know exactly which amount you will need to transfer to the account of the notary. On the day of the transfer, you will first visit your new home before going to the notary.

During the final walk-through, your estate agent will check if everything is working and is as agreed on in the conditions. Pictures will be made of the metre readings, so you can use them to connect your name with the right numbers. If everything is all right, you will visit the notary.

9. Signing of the transfer deed

At the notary, there will be an interpreter arranged to translate everything for you. First, they will handle the deed of ownership, making you the owner of your Dutch property, and then they will go through the mortgage deed (if you need one).

10. Getting the keys to your new home

After you have signed the deed of ownership, the keys to your new home will be handed over to you, and you can rush to the new property that you fell in love with straight away.